Franco Harris: Steelers Hall of Famer Dies at 72; legendary running back, famous for “The Immaculate Reception” | NFL News
Franco Harris: Steelers Hall of Famer Dies at 72; legendary running back, famous for “The Immaculate Reception” | NFL News
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Franco Harris’ death comes two days before the 50th anniversary of the play he was famous for, The Immaculate Reception; The Pittsburgh Steelers host the Las Vegas Raiders on Christmas Eve in a replay of the 1972 duel, with a halftime ceremony scheduled to retire Harris’ No. 32 jersey
Last updated: 12/21/22 1:02 PM
Legendary Pittsburgh Steelers running back Franco Harris has died at the age of 72
Franco Harris, the Hall of Famer running back best known for “The Immaculate Reception,” which helped transform the Pittsburgh Steelers from Also-Rans into the NFL’s elite, has died at the age of 72.
Harris’ son Dok told The Associated Press his father died overnight. No cause of death was given.
Harris’ death comes two days before the 50th anniversary of the flawless reception game for which he became famous and which is considered the most iconic in NFL history.
The Pittsburgh Steelers host the Las Vegas Raiders on Christmas Eve as part of the anniversary celebrations, a repeat of the divisional playoff match between the two teams in 1972. The Steelers have scheduled a halftime ceremony to retire Harris’ No. 32 jersey.
Harris ran for 12,120 yards in his 12-year playing career from 1972 to 1984, all but one of which he spent with the Steelers.
He won four Super Bowl rings with Pittsburgh in the 1970s, a dynasty that began with Harris’ world-famous catch against the Raiders in the 1972 playoffs.
With Pittsburgh trailing 7-6 and fourth and tenth from their own 40-yard line, quarterback Terry Bradshaw threw the ball deep at running back French Fuqua with just 22 seconds remaining. Fuqua and Raiders defenseman Jack Tatum collided, sending the ball back toward midfield and toward Harris.
While almost everyone else on the field stopped, Harris kept his legs agitated and snatched the ball inches off the turf before then passing several stunned defenders to give the Steelers their first playoff win in the franchise’s four-decade history to bring.
“This game really represents our teams from the ’70s,” Harris said after “The Immaculate Reception” was voted the greatest game in NFL history during the league’s 100th anniversary season in 2020.
While the Steelers were defeated by the Miami Dolphins in the AFC championship game the following week, Pittsburgh was on track to become the dominant team of the 1970s in the NFL, winning back-to-back Super Bowls, first after 1974 and seasons in 1975 and again after the 1978 and 1979 campaigns.
Harris was the center of attention. In Pittsburgh’s 16-6 win over Minnesota in Super Bowl IX, he rushed for a then-record 158 rushing yards and a touchdown on his way to becoming the game’s MVP.
He’s netted at least once in three of the four Super Bowls he’s played in, and his 354 career yards on the NFL’s biggest stage remains a record nearly four decades after his retirement.
